An Internet-based Weight-loss Program for Low-income Postpartum Women

In the U.S, about 4 million women give birth every year. An internet-based weight loss program was included along with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program.

An internet-based weight loss program was found to be more effective than the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC program). This program helped in reducing weight in women of the low-income postpartum over 12 months, reveals a study. //

Postpartum weight retention increases lifetime risk of obesity and related health issues. The study was published by JAMA.

Study Finds New App That Maintains Motivation During Weight Loss Programme
A mobile phone app to support people, who are set to embark on a partial meal replacement program (MRP) was created and tested by researchers.

‘The internet-based weight loss program consists of weekly lessons, web diary, instructional videos, computerized feedback, text messages and monthly face-to-face groups at the WIC clinics.’

Approximately 4 million women give birth in the United States each year and, between 2004 and 2008, an estimated 25 percent retained more than 10 pounds of their pregnancy weight and gained additional weight during the postpartum year.

Prevalence rates of postpartum weight retention are higher among low-income Hispanic women. Few effective interventions exist for multicultural, low-income women.

Suzanne Phelan, Ph.D., of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and colleagues examined whether an internet-based weight loss program in addition to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC program) for low-income postpartum women could produce greater weight loss than the WIC program alone.

Structured Weight Loss Program Helps Kids from Low-income Families Lower BMI: Study
According to a new study, overweight and obese children in low-income households can meet or exceed the Expert Committee Recommendations.

Twelve clinics were randomized to the WIC program (standard care group) or the WIC program plus the 12-month primarily internet-based weight loss program (intervention group), including a website with weekly lessons, web diary, instructional videos, computerized feedback, text messages and monthly face-to-face groups at the WIC clinics.

Participants included 371women (82 percent of them Hispanic; their average weight above prepregnancy weight was 17.2 pounds) at clinics randomized to either the intervention group or standard care group.

Weight Watchers is the Most Effective Commercial Weight Loss Program
A new study has found that Weight Watchers is the most effective commercial weight loss program.

The intervention group had a greater average weight loss over 12 months: 7 pounds compared with 2 pounds in the standard care group. More participants in the intervention group (57 percent) returned to preconception weight by 12 months compared with 36 percent in the standard care group.

Although the greater weight loss of 5 pounds in the intervention group compared with standard care may seem modest, even small postpartum weight retention has been linked to increased risk of later weight gain and development of obesity and diabetes in women, the authors note.

Reports Demonstrate Effective Weight Loss Programs for Obese, Overweight
Lifestyle interventions, including physical activity and structured weight loss programs, can result in significant weight loss for overweight, obese and severely obese adults, according

Limitations of the study include that some participants were provided with internet access, which could be cost-prohibitive; however, internet access has increased steadily since 2010 to more than 74 percent of low-income households and 81 percent of the Hispanic population.

"Further research is needed to determine program and cost-effectiveness as part of the WIC program," the researchers write.

Source-Eurekalert